I exercise pretty much every day. I use a treadmill in my bedroom and watch movies a half hour at a time. I exercise because I know it is good for me. The treadmill is boring. I watch movies because I like to. Generally though and with some exceptions, I don’t watch movies unless I am on the treadmill. I have been told that I have a lot of discipline. I am not so sure. Do I exercise for the long-term health benefits, or do I exercise so I can watch a movie? It actually doesn’t matter which it is. I win with both. I get the long-term benefit from a boring activity I would prefer to put off and I get to do something I like at the same time. What has happened here is I have solved the exercise procrastination.
Procrastination is defined as doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones. I’ve combined a movie (pleasurable) with exercise (less pleasurable) and get the satisfaction of accomplishment – a double pleasure.
I wonder what else I am procrastinating that can be solved in a similar fashion if I just put my mind to it. What about you?